58 replies to this topic

[luciusgore]

[box]James Bond Producers Lose Clive Owen Over Contract Points
According to a report by entertainment trade Variety correspondent Michael Fleming, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson lost the chance to have Academy Award-nominated actor Clive Owen (41) assume the title role in the James Bond film empire when they refused to include gross profit points for the actor

Edited by zencat, 30 September 2005 - 04:01 PM.

[Loomis]

And yet they're prepared to pay Brosnan $16,500,000 (the IMDb) - circa $25,000,000 (Variety) for DIE ANOTHER DAY!

Crazy, just crazy.

There's also talk on MI6 about so-called "handcuff clauses" that may also have dissuaded Owen from being Bond. Such as: having to get permission to do certain types of film between Bonds, and not being allowed to wear a tuxedo in other movies.

Would an actor of Craig's stature be willing to put up with those things? If he's playing an Israeli intelligence agent in Spielberg's upcoming MUNICH, as I presume he is, isn't that the kind of role he'd have to get the Bond people's say-so for?

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

Craig now reminds me a little bit of Owen a few months ago now that I think about it.

[spynovelfan]

But this is standard stuff, isn't it? Brosnan wasn't allowed to wear the tux in other films (though he got a special dispensation for THOMAS CROWN). For obvious reasons - you could have an NSNA-type situation. You can't have your Bond actor playing another character that's too similar, or it all goes wrong. And didn't Brosnan also ask for percentage points and get turned down, or so the rumour went? Have they ever given percentage points?

That said, perhaps it's time they looked at what they can now offer potential Bond actors. It seems to me that very few people actually want to do it.

[doublenoughtspy]

The info about Owen came from Variety - but it isn't necissarily a fact.

They use the word rumor:

http://www.variety.c...36&cs=1&s=h&p=0

[Turn]

The info about Owen came from Variety - but it isn't necissarily a fact.

They use the word rumor:

http://www.variety.c...36&cs=1&s=h&p=0

I find that somebody's making a movie based on Dallas more frightening than any of the Bond rumors.

[Loomis]

But this is standard stuff, isn't it? Brosnan wasn't allowed to wear the tux in other films (though he got a special dispensation for THOMAS CROWN). For obvious reasons - you could have an NSNA-type situation. You can't have your Bond actor playing another character that's too similar, or it all goes wrong. And didn't Brosnan also ask for percentage points and get turned down, or so the rumour went? Have they ever given percentage points?

That said, perhaps it's time they looked at what they can now offer potential Bond actors. It seems to me that very few people actually want to do it.

"Why bother, let's just get an unknown 20-something on the cheap" seems to be the thinking.

[spynovelfan]

Indeed - but even they don't seem too interested! Otherwise, why even look at Australians and so on?

[Emma]

Well I never wanted Owen to be Bond in the first place. He's a great actor and I loved him in 'Closer'. But he's just not James Bond. He has no charisma and he's not elegant. He's not steel in a velvet glove which is what Bond should be. Too working class. Ditto for Craig.

[spynovelfan]

Well I never wanted Owen to be Bond in the first place. He's a great actor and I loved him in 'Closer'. But he's just not James Bond. He has no charisma and he's not elegant.  He's not steel in a velvet glove which is what Bond should be. Too working class. Ditto for Craig.

Can I just ask if you've watched the BMW films? Maybe you have. But a lot of people I know who don't see Owen as Bond change their mind after watching stuff like this. Sadly, probably the closest we'll get to seeing Owen as Bond. But, for my money, in these two series of short films he is much more Bondian than Brosnan.

[Alessandra]

MAN.. THERE IS JUST ONE WORD FOR THIS.. IT'S LAAAAAMEEEEEEEE!!!
LAME, LAME AND LAME!!!

[spynovelfan]

Babs and Wilson really are messing up this movie...

But it hasn't even started shooting yet, and this is pure speculation, so how can you know that?

Just thought I'd point that out. Come on - let's not be too negative.

Rikki Lee Travolta for Bond!

[Seannery]

MAN.. THERE IS JUST ONE WORD FOR THIS.. IT'S LAAAAAMEEEEEEEE!!!
LAME, LAME AND LAME!!!   

Tell us what you really mean Alessandra.

[WC]

The info about Owen came from Variety - but it isn't necissarily a fact.

They use the word rumor:

http://www.variety.c...36&cs=1&s=h&p=0

I find that somebody's making a movie based on Dallas more frightening than any of the Bond rumors.

Those names suggested for the Dallas cast are just awful! Zeta Jones as Sue Ellen? Jane Fonda as Miss Ellie? Drew Barrymore or Reese Witherspoon as Pam? Owen Wilson as Bobby Ewing?

I would've thought if anything, Zeta Jones would be more a Pam type. Not that I'd want her in the role. Susan Sarandon would actually make the ideal Sue Ellen.

Back on topic though, I wonder what EON think now of Owen in the Pink Panther? The thing is that that movie is likely to bomb at the box office anyway. Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau? Come on. Wasn't it delayed because of bad reviews. Maybe EON don't have anything to worry about with that, since it might not have that significant an effect on the Bond franchise.

[luciusgore]

If they put something in a clause that an actor can't wear a tux because he played James Bond -- that is just idiotic! It is 2005! So the producers are willing to turn away Clive Owen and accept Julian McMahon, because McMahon is willing to promise who won't wear tuxes in other movies? Babs and Wilson are a couple of control freaks.

[Loomis]

Rikki Lee Travolta for Bond!

We'll be lucky. I'll wager even Dean Gaffney turned Bond down.

So the producers are willing to turn away Clive Owen and accept Julian McMahon, because McMahon is willing to promise who won't wear tuxes in other movies?

Hang on, do you know something we don't?

[Bon-san]

I'll wager even Dean Gaffney turned Bond down.

You're on. How much, then?

[zencat]

Eon won't pay points. Why is this suddenly "news." For over a year now we've been talking about how Eon dumped Pierce because he wanted points. Eon will not pay a percentage to any actor (this is what Connery has been complaining about for 30 years). This is why Eon do not and will not even consider a name actor like Owen. Any "star" demands points nowadays. I think I posted this again and again.

BTW, this article makes it sound like they had Owen and then negotiations broke down over this issue. That they "lost" him. No. As far as I know, Owen was never even approached (and even Owen confirmed this). They only approached/considered actors who were not of a stature yet to demand points. That is the REAL reason the list of Bond finalist are relative unknowns.

The tux thing is silly. It's true, but that is not a deal breaker. Come on. It's all about the money.

[Loomis]

I'll wager even Dean Gaffney turned Bond down.

You're on. How much, then?

Erm, nothing. Thinking about it, Gaffney might actually be an inspired choice for "Fleming's Bond" in a "gritty" CASINO ROYALE.

[Loomis]

Eon will not pay a percentage to any actor

Why not? I mean, if other companies do....

This is why Eon do not and will not even consider a name actor like Owen. Any "star" demands points nowadays.

But isn't Craig a "name actor", a "star"?

[Bon-san]

Eon will not pay a percentage to any actor

Why not? I mean, if other companies do....

This is why Eon do not and will not even consider a name actor like Owen. Any "star" demands points nowadays.

But isn't Craig a "name actor", a "star"?

Here's where I break it to you gently...

[Michigansoftball#1]

I'm looking forward to having a relative unknown in the role once more. Already established stars bring too much baggage with them.

I remember Timothy Dalton's name wasn't even mentioned by the press in 1986, the Bond race was dominated by Pierce Brosnan, Lewis Collins and Mel Gibson back then.

It wasn't until much later that we also found out that Sam Neil had been very close to nabbing the role.

[Loomis]

Eon will not pay a percentage to any actor

Why not? I mean, if other companies do....

This is why Eon do not and will not even consider a name actor like Owen. Any "star" demands points nowadays.

But isn't Craig a "name actor", a "star"?

Here's where I break it to you gently...

He's considerably more famous than the other so-called finalists, though (here in the UK, anyway). Okay, he's hardly Tom Hanks, but he's more or less in Owen's league, no? Or getting there, at least?

[zencat]

Craig obviously doesn't demands points. That's why he's a finalist.

[luciusgore]

I think Eon won't pay points because they figure Bond's true value isn't the actor in the role but the 40 years of history the franchise. But guess what? They will make WAY MORE MONEY with an actor like OWen or Brosnan in the role than with a McMahon. BTW, it's my understanding that McMahon is out of the running, but he was a serious candidate. Eon should not underestimate the importance of having a strong actor in there.

Dalton didn't get points. But remember, LTK almost ended the series. It tanked. I remember when it showed on Fox a few years into the 1990s, and people were remarking what utter wank it was. It was understood when GE was being produced, that if it didn't hit, then it was over. No more James Bond movies. It would be off to a TV series. As it is, GE saved the series. Thank goodness Brosnan was a grade Z actor at the time, desperate for any work. But times have changed.

We are now at that crossroads again. They should pay a real actor for the role. Get Owen. Pay the man. You get what you pay for.

[Bon-san]

[quote name='Loomis' date='30 September 2005 - 11:20']
But isn't Craig a "name actor", a "star"?

[/quote]

Here's where I break it to you gently...

[/quote]

He's considerably more famous than the other so-called finalists, though (here in the UK, anyway). Okay, he's hardly Tom Hanks, but he's more or less in Owen's league, no? Or getting there, at least?

[/quote]

I can't speak for how things are anywhere else in the world, but in the USA Clive Owen is not as big a star as he's often portrayed on boards like this one. I don't wish to start up that whole ruckus about how big a star X is vs Y, what makes a star?, If a star falls in the forest is there a publicist there to hear it?, etc. But really, Owen is on the rise, well-respected, and fairly well known amongst the more informed sector of filmgoing society (i.e., Dukes of Hazzard fans probably have no idea). But he's not A-list, not a household name.

Craig is at least a notch, and probably two, below Owen on the star visibility scale in the US.

[zencat]

BTW, for the record, someone on these boards told me (sorry, I don't remember who) that Roger got points for AVTAK...but I think that was more a personal thank you from Cubby than a negotiation issue.

[Spoon]

Well, I'm very glad it's not Owen. The last thing we needed was the brooding "I hate what I have become" Bond that he probably would have played.

That said, if you were in charge of casting, even if you were told that your options were limited to lesser-known actors... would you have come up with the list we seem to have? Whoever you are, I guarantee you you wouldn't have; no one would have. Now, obviously Eon and Sony know a helluva lot more about acting than I do, and they also know more about who's pleasant to work with, what kind of contract demands people will make, etc. All that said, if it were up to me, I would have started with the job description "28-42; British or Irish; tall; dark; handsome; charming." Obviously, they didn't do that, and in fact we have not seen an actor fitting that description linked anywhere near the role in months! Think about that. Quite honestly, it seems more like people who happened to run across the filmmakers (Craig and Broccoli are friends, Campbell and Visnjic seem to know each other somehow, Cavill seems to seek out any big franchise he can) than it seems like the filmmakers doing an organized search for candidates who fit certain criteria.

Edited by Spoon, 30 September 2005 - 04:52 PM.

[luciusgore]

My take is that Eon has been taking the success of its movies for granted. Goldeneye set up a new era of success for the series. Anytime Brosnan put on the tux, they were guaranteed to make money, whether or not the movie sucked.

I have a feeling if they select someone else and make a weak Bond film, the franchise will be done. At least it will teach Babs and Wilson a lesson. Maybe then they would sell the rights and someone else could pick up the pieces.

[Loomis]

Well, I did suspect Craig was "too big for Bond", but evidently he isn't. Which I'm very pleased about. Here's hoping he gets the role.